Veteran actor plays autobiographical role in 'Life in the Theatre'

Actor Jonathan McMurtry has known David Ellenstein since the
North Coast Repertory Theatre artistic director was 14 years
old.

"I've known David a long time," said McMurtry, an Old Globe
Theatre veteran of 43 years who recently moved to Vista. "His
father (Robert Ellenstein) has both directed me and acted with
me."

Twelve years ago, McMurtry and David Ellenstein appeared as an
older actor attempting to pass on his craft to a younger thespian
in David Mamet's "A Life in the Theatre" at the now-defunct Gaslamp
Quarter Theatre in San Diego. This month, they decided to
collaborate on the same show at North Coast Rep. Only, now in his
mid-40s, Ellenstein is too old for the role of the younger actor.
So the duo turned to Francis Gercke, a Carlsbad actor who is making
a name on local stages and also heads the critically acclaimed New
Village Arts Theatre with his wife, Kristianne Kurner.

Interestingly enough, Gercke and McMurtry already have a
relationship that isn't too far from that of the characters in this
show. McMurtry has been extremely helpful every time New Village
Arts has presented Shakespeare, a genre that McMurtry teaches.

"We had done a reading of 'King Lear' at the Actor's Alliance
together, and he also assisted on 'The Merchant of Venice' at the
San Diego Repertory Theatre, which I was in," said Gercke. "He's
been great at helping us out."

Now the two are sharing the stage for the first time and both
are enjoying it.

"Getting to observe him is a lesson in itself," said Gercke.
"He's a very innovative actor. It's easy to get caught up in
enjoying him and forgetting the play."

For McMurtry, this play is almost straight out of his life.
While the actor occasionally does TV and movies, he strongly
prefers theater. After performing in more than 180 productions at
the Old Globe, he's played an amazing variety of characters and is
especially known for his Shakespearean portrayals.

"I'm rather unique," he said. "I'm lucky, of course, to be able
to act here in San Diego. And when I work in TV, I take the train
and it's a 90-minute commute, which is just about right."

The comparisons between his life and the older actor in this
play don't escape him.

"In a way, this character is me," he said. "I love the play
because it lets the audience in on the magic of theater. It tells
how the magic tricks are done and how things go wrong."

Already, he is impressed with Gercke's work in a way that, once
again, reflects the text.

"I love Fran," he said. "He's a good actor, he's nice and he's
sensitive. I feel privileged to work with him."

That feeling appears to be mutual. Even though Gercke is the new
kid compared to the seasoned team of McMurtry and Ellenstein, he
fits right in.

"At first I was intimidated that they've done the show before,"
said Gercke. "But they've both been gracious and generous. They've
made it clear they're there to help me out. It's very comfortable
to know they've been through it before."